mr. dickens...

I'm reading "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. I read it every year at Christmas time (for the past few years, at least. I got that splendid idea from my brother Aaron.)

Anyway, it's really good--so much better than any play or movie of it. (Although I really get a kick out of "A Muppet Christmas Carol.") It's got a great message and really makes me stop and think.

The other day I read over Scrooge's visit with his old business partner, the spectre of Jacob Marley. Obviously, Marley is trying to help Scrooge avoid Marley's own miserable fate, and in doing so, Marley tells Scrooge of his misdeed--many of which Scrooge is also guilty. In order to comfort Marley and, I think, himself, Scrooge reminds Marley that he was a good business man.

Marley's response is deep and thought-provoking:

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolance, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

Isn't that true? Mankind is our business. Relationships are our business...helping and serving others in need--those are all our business. Although holding a steady job and having some reliable income is important, it's only a drop in the bucket compared to what life is truly all about...

Anyway, I'm only about halfway through the book; it's a quick read, typically, but I haven't really the found time to read it until I'm crawling into bed at the end of the day...so usually I don't get much read before I drop off to sleep. I'm really enjoying it, though, and I'll continue the tradition of reading it every year at this time...

For some reason I wanted to share this with you all...